Quote:
|
Would 'ironic' be the correct term to describe the situation in which the author of the book Farenheit 451 is banned?
|
Given the story of Fahrenheit 451 that IS ironic!
There’s a big difference between banning and setting limits to use. A teacher not allowing a novel to be read during history class is not a ban, it is a rather practical rule that sets a limit to a novel’s use. Likewise, laws that prohibit the access of pornography to minors, is not a ban, but a limit set on its use. Censorship is not banning, either, or at least most of the time it doesn’t go so far as banning. Most of the time censorship takes the form of rules that limit something’s access to a certain group of people, usually minors (either as observers or participants), in regards to sex and violence.
Are there reasons to limit the use of LotR? Of course! For example, reading the LotR during your great grandmother’s funeral would go against the limits of good taste. Are there reasons to censor LotR? The books are pretty inane as far as adult content, so I don’t see why it should. Well, at least the movie received a PG-13 rating. Are there reasons to ban LotR? Well, I guess there are as many reasons as there are people who would want to ban it. Asking people on the Barrow Downs for reasons to ban Tolkien would be like asking people at a Zionist convention for reasons why there should be a Palistinian State.
I definitely think that some things should be banned (and LotR is not one of them), but since I’m in no position to inflict my will on everyone (and an infliction it would be!), and since I wouldn’t want to be inflicted with the will of the ignorant masses, then I will just remain content with the rather inept constitutional system that I was lucky enough to be born under. Thus, I will continue to bend my back under the weight of that all too used, and never really thought about phrase: “…as long as it doesn’t infringe on my rights…”